Declan Chisholm Bio
Declan Chisholm (born January 12, 2000) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). A left-shot defender known for his skating and offensive instincts from the blue line, Chisholm was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the fifth round, 150th overall, of the 2018 NHL entry draft. Standing 185 cm tall and weighing 84 kg, he has progressed from a long Ontario Hockey League tenure with the Peterborough Petes to a professional career spanning the American Hockey League (AHL) and the NHL.
Early Life and Background
Declan Chisholm was born on January 12, 2000, in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, to Paul Chisholm and Erin Fagan. He grew up in a Canadian household with strong ties to Ireland through his maternal grandfather. As a young child, Chisholm faced a serious health setback when he battled a staphylococcal infection in his knee that required surgery. After a period of recovery that involved using a walker, he returned to full mobility and soon joined a local youth ice hockey team.
It was during that early introduction to organized hockey that Chisholm was first placed on defence, a position that would define his career. The Bowmanville, Ontario, native developed his game in local minor hockey before becoming a high-priority prospect for major-junior teams. His family supported his athletic development through his recovery years, and the patience shown during his early health challenge helped shape a player who relied on poise and positioning rather than physicality.
Path to Hockey
Chisholm’s path to professional hockey began in earnest when the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) selected him in the second round, 24th overall, of the 2016 OHL Priority Selection. He spent four formative seasons developing with the Petes, growing into one of the league’s most productive defencemen. During his final OHL season, Chisholm set career highs with 13 goals, 56 assists, and 69 points, the highest total ever recorded by a Peterborough defenceman in a single campaign.
His offensive production and smooth skating drew the attention of NHL scouts, and the Winnipeg Jets selected him 150th overall in the 2018 NHL entry draft. Rather than turn professional immediately, Chisholm continued to refine his game in the OHL, balancing junior responsibilities with the long-term development plan laid out by the Jets’ organization. The combination of major-junior success and draft selection set the stage for his transition to the professional ranks.
Declan Chisholm Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Declan Chisholm signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets on June 1, 2020, beginning his professional career. He made his professional debut on February 22, 2021, suiting up for the Manitoba Moose, Winnipeg’s American Hockey League affiliate. For the better part of two seasons, Chisholm honed his game in the AHL, working on the defensive details and special teams responsibilities required of a two-way blue liner.
His first extended look at the NHL level came during the 2021–22 season, when the Jets’ roster was depleted by COVID-19 issues. Chisholm, who had recorded six goals and 14 points with Manitoba at the time of his call-up, was promoted and made his NHL debut on January 13, 2022, the day after his 22nd birthday. He was paired with veteran Nate Schmidt and skated in a 3–0 shutout win over the Detroit Red Wings, an encouraging first step at the top level.
Winnipeg Jets Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Following his debut, Chisholm split time between the Jets and the Manitoba Moose, continuing to develop his game on both sides of the puck. He appeared in additional NHL contests during the 2022–23 campaign, gaining valuable experience against top-tier competition. The Jets viewed him as a depth defenceman with offensive upside, and he worked closely with the team’s coaching staff to refine his positioning and decision-making in all three zones.
During the 2023–24 season, however, Chisholm appeared in just two games with the Jets while spending most of his time as a healthy scratch. Seeking a clearer opportunity, he was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Wild on January 29, 2024, opening a new chapter in his young career.
Minnesota Wild Era (2024–2025)
With the Minnesota Wild, Chisholm received a more consistent opportunity to contribute at the NHL level. He skated in a regular rotation on the blue line, using his skating and puck-moving ability to help drive the Wild’s transition game. His time in Minnesota allowed him to log meaningful minutes and build chemistry with new defensive partners while contributing on the team’s power play and penalty kill units.
Chisholm’s steady play through the 2024–25 season helped establish him as a reliable depth defenceman with offensive upside. As a pending restricted free agent, however, his long-term future with the Wild came into question leading up to the 2025 NHL entry draft.
Washington Capitals Era (2025–Present)
On June 28, 2025, at the 2025 NHL entry draft, the Minnesota Wild traded Declan Chisholm, along with a sixth-round draft pick, to the Washington Capitals in exchange for defenceman Chase Priskie and a fourth-round pick. The trade signalled a fresh start for Chisholm in the nation’s capital, where the Capitals were building around a new generation of players.
Chisholm joined the Washington Capitals organization and entered the 2025–26 NHL season looking to carve out a consistent role on the blue line. His combination of offensive instincts, skating, and improving defensive responsibility gave Washington a versatile option as it shaped its defensive rotation for the year ahead.
Playing Style and Strengths
Declan Chisholm is a left-shot defenceman whose game is built around smooth skating, mobility, and offensive awareness from the blue line. He excels in transition, capable of moving the puck cleanly out of his own zone and joining the rush when opportunities arise. His coachability and willingness to play a structured defensive game have allowed him to fit into different team systems, while his power-play instincts have made him an attractive option for coaches looking for a puck-moving defenceman.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Chisholm’s career are his NHL debut on January 13, 2022, against the Detroit Red Wings, his record-setting 69-point OHL season with the Peterborough Petes, and his trade to the Washington Capitals in June 2025. His recovery from a childhood knee infection and subsequent emergence as a top OHL defenceman also stand out as a remarkable personal milestone.
Declan Chisholm Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Declan Chisholm was raised in Bowmanville, Ontario, by his parents, Paul Chisholm and Erin Fagan. His maternal grandfather, Paddy Fagan, was a lifelong hurling player in Ireland before immigrating to Canada, giving the family deep roots in Irish sport. That athletic heritage shaped Chisholm’s early exposure to competitive team sports and underscored the family’s long-standing connection to Irish sporting tradition.
Personal Life
Outside of hockey, Chisholm has kept his personal life largely private. He is known to remain closely connected to his family in the Bowmanville area, where he continues to be recognized for the perseverance he showed in recovering from a serious childhood knee infection before pursuing his hockey career.
2025 Season Performance
Declan Chisholm’s 2025 storyline began with his June 2025 trade from the Minnesota Wild to the Washington Capitals, which gave him a fresh opportunity on a rebuilding blue line. He entered training camp looking to secure a regular role on Washington’s defence and to build chemistry with new partners in head coach Spencer Carbery’s system. Early-season form suggested he would contribute on both the power play and the penalty kill, areas where his skating and puck skills could be fully utilized.
Through the opening stretch of the season, Chisholm has provided the Capitals with a steady, mobile presence on the back end, logging consistent minutes and helping to drive the team’s transition game. His ability to move the puck under pressure has complemented Washington’s group of young forwards, and his familiarity with both offensive and defensive zone responsibilities has made him a versatile piece of the lineup.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2025, Chisholm’s outlook with the Capitals is shaped by his opportunity to play in a top-six defensive role and to grow alongside a young core. If he continues to deliver the steady, two-way play he showed with the Wild, he has a clear path to becoming a long-term contributor in Washington.